Molding machine and method of molding



Dec. 22, 1953 H. A. VAN LOON MOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING 4 Sheets-Shoat; 1

Filed March 28, 194'? INVENTOR. W01 Vaufion BY a A777Z72NV5 Dec. 22, 1953 H. A. VAN LOON MOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1947 INVENTOR Vaafiou yw e M QTTOIQNEYS H. A. VAN LOON MOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING Dec. 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Shut 3 Filed March 28, 1947 INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 H. A. VAN LOON 2,663

MOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING Filed March 28, 1947 4 h et's-Shet 4 jk 'qd 1/ 39 ME.WII/IIIIIIIIIIIIMIIMI YIIJ zmm IIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. Z Van iatented Dec. 22, .1953

PATENT oFFI E y 6 i Y MOLDING-MACHINE AND METHOD OF MOLDING jBishop', Calih; assignor of alfto D 7 a1 B. Smith, Altadena', Galiif.

Eh 'A-J v iij i e.

xtpucatiotliiian 26, 194i; Salerno. ems roams? (chat-iii Thisfin'ventionirelatgt am'ii nietfi oi' f ormingf or .mol ig'building tiles or blocks w the'inventionis top'ovide an improvedimeans and method of molding elongated bloclilibrhiedfif' concrete or similar self harclening material wherein core" openings} are formedthat e longitudinally through e. l'd ovi in l -mfi a l s l 6 ii lighten the mom; bu ntnbuteto its'heat and sound insulating jq'iial More speoifically,' to provide a inol n m l w i ate its'endsli" il My they maybe, use L t. pelthe-mol'ded arti e 'itlie mold and in so doing "become" repositioned within'th'e mold ready forasubsequent fillingoi thejrnold v Anotherobject'oft invention isto providea 25 mowing apparatus v 11 in the abdVe'ement'ionecL. characteristics wner inne cores ar pdetacliably fl connected toithe with awingineans -tq enable} nto its 'jve'rtioal position f the con neoti'on to be en the mold is returned and which will perm rte-established readi to its horizontalp ositi With the foreg'o [g which will be made in merit ofthe'inventi Figure} is a s niew elevation of theim'p oyed the inoldproperbe position inffull l1 tionindottedlin'es t. 1 r i 4 Fig.2 isa p'rsp" ti (f ois; or ,tilefthat', molde l or. formed pro'vedjapparatus;

F '3' .,a top plan- View. of -the;moldz.proper, parts being, broken. away and. shown 1:: vertical c n;

Fig. 5 isan end v-iew in elevation of that portion illustrated in Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is a; sectional'view taken substantially upon the line 6-6 upon Fig. 4

Fig'.' 7 is a view in side elevation of the mold proper; parts being broken away and shown in section substantially upon the line l--| upon Figl fiij Figs. 8 andl9 are sectional views taken substan: tiallyf upon the lines uponFig. 7;

Fig, 10is a, partial viewin section illustrating 7' th mechanism employed for supporting the cores when they havebeen withdrawn from the. mold;

Ffig. 1 1;is a-horizontal section taken substantially; upon the lineal] l=upon.Fig., 10; v

Eigz'lzris a partial view in vertical section 'il- 7.-

lustrating the I; port-is a s having ,been withdrawn fromthe-moldand'prepared to expel the molded li rom e o dr;

13 i avi w simil r ing the m 1de d blockin the course of its being expelled -from themold;

Fig. l-si is a; perspective view of, a masking plate-.- that is utilized as,a;part of the apparatus; and;

Fig, 1571s a perspective view of a pusher plate that is, also utilized asa part of; the apparatus. Referring-u. t0; the; accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout,the improved molding device'issupported on a suitable framework'generally indicated at. .10 b On this framework'an open-.endedtubular. mold is pivotally mounted I as at le2.:for:rotationiabout:a horizontal axis. This pivotal mountingis provided by means of trunniQnst I63 which -ar e:-seoured:tothesidesof the moldand-which extend.- through bearings-orjourrials i l. The bearingsor journals I are suspended such as by shackle bolts from canti leversleafisprings lfi-that are rigidly mountedon' the; sideseof: the "frame. Adjustment of these cantilevefspring-s may be accomplished to some extentnbysmeans -of-jack =s crews-ll. "Downward' Y movements 0i-*-:the journals or bearings IG are IimitedLby-means of-bumper plates 18. "This; pivotal mounting enables the mold H to be swung orr-tilted from the. horizontal position shown in fulllli es: in Fig. to.- the. vertical or dotted-.'line; a positionshown .therein;,and the spring. suspension for the pivotal mountinghenables the mold to be. 1 verticallyyibrated e Qept as: limited by the.) bumper plates 1 8.1 A;s:a 6 means for. vibrating-v the, mold an eleqtric.motor -.or. other source of power, indieated at i s mountedlon the wall of;the. 5B

moid'and serves to drive an I eccentric weight 8-8 and 9-9, respectively,

to Fig. 12 but illustrate 3 which, when driven, is effective to vibrate the mold vertically while in the vertical position, this being permitted by means of the spring suspension from the springs IS.

A plurality of tubular cores 2| are provided which, when within the mold, extend from end to end thereof. These cores are designed to core the longitudinally extending openings 22 (see Fig. 2) in the block that is produced. While these cores are designed to be withdrawn or removed from the mold and re-positioned therein, half cores 23 are stationarily or permanently mounted on the end walls of the mold and remain permanently therein. These half cores are designed to form the half rounds 24 (see Fig. 2) on the edges of the block. The various cores 2| are welded or otherwise secured to cylindrical bosses 25 on a cross head 26 that carries a transversely extending rod or shaft 21 equipped at its projecting ends with rollers 28 thus forming trunnions at the sides of the cross head that are reciprocable in hooks 29 on the piston rod 30 of a hydraulic ram. The hydraulic ram may consist merely of a cylinder 3| within which a piston is reciprocable. A pump 32 supplies liquid under pressure to either end of the cylinder 3|, the direction of flow being controlled by a control valve 33. This control valve is preferably in the form. of a four-way valve designed so that when the pump is supplying liquid to one end of the cylinder, liquid from the other end of the cylinder may be returned therethrough to a reservoir 34. In this manner the piston rod 30 may be forcibly driven in either direction and while any equivalent means for moving the piston rod 30 back and forth might be employed, a hydraulic ram is preferable due to its simplicity and the available power that it may exert on the piston rod.

As the piston rod 30 moves from right to left as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and '7, the cores 2| can be pulled or Withdrawn from the mold, and conversely, as the piston rod 30 moves from left to right the cores may be returned into the mold. The crotches of the hooks 29 being downwardly open, permit of ready detachment of the cores from the piston rod and enable the mold with the cores therein to be swung from the horizontal position into the vertical position. Several masking plates are provided one of which is illustrated at 35 in Fig. 14. These masking plates have apertures 36 therein designed to pass the cores therethrough and have semi-circular recesses 31 at their ends so that these masking plates may slide over the half rounds or stationary half cores 23. These masking plates are designed to be positioned in the ends of the mold and to be retained therein such as by spring actuated latches 38 (see Fig. 11). In this position the masking plates abut against lining plates or pallets 39 and 40 that are positioned against the inner faces of the top and bottom of the mold, respectively. The edges of these lining plates or pallets are slidably disposed in grooves 4| in the corners of the mold so that when the contents of the mold are expelled, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the lining plates or pallets will be expelled with the molded block.

As a means for retaining the cores 2| within the mold when the mold is turned in vertical position, the cross head 26 is equipped with upstanding flanges 42 arranged to abut complementary flanges 43 on the top or side wall of the mold. Latches 44 are pivotally mounted on the flanges 43 and are adapted to engage the flanges 42 to lock the cross head against the end of the mold.

4 However, on swinging the latches into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8, the cross head can be detached from the mold to enable withdrawal of the cores by the piston rod 30.

As a means for centering the cores 2| at the top of the mold when the mold is in its vertical position, a, transversely extending bar 45 is provided carrying tapered core entering members 46 designed to enter the upper ends of the cores. This bar is receivable in notches 41 in the end walls of the mold and serve to hold the cores 2| against leaning toward either side of the mold;

The operation of the above-described construc tion is as follows. Assuming that the cores are in position within the mold and that the masking plate 35 is in position therein about the cores, the latches 44 are shifted to lock the cross head 26 to the end of the mold. The mold is then swung in a counter-clockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, turning about the pivotal connection at l2. When the mold is in its vertical position the centering bar 45 may be applied to hold the cores centered with relation to the mold. A removable hopper 4B is then applied to the top of the mold and a selfhardening material such as concrete may be poured into the mold such as from a concrete mixer 49. While this material may be conventional concrete, I prefer to employ for this purpose a mixture of Portland cement and fine and coarse pumice that have been only lightly moistened. The amount of water added preferably to my preferred mix is only that required to dampen the mix so that it will hold together if squeezed or packed. A wetter mixture may be employed with other types of materials. As this mix is poured into the mold the vibrator afforded by the motor i9 and the eccentric weight 20 is operated to cause the entire mold and the contained cores to be vertically vibrated to settle or pack the self-hardening material as it is fed into the mold. When the mold has been completely filled and has been adequately vibrated, the hopper 48 is removed and the mold swung in a clockwise direction from the dotted line position shown in Fig. l to the full line position shown therein. In so doing the trunnions providedby the rollers 28 on the rod or shaft 21 then enter the crotches of the hooks 29. The hydraulic ram is then set in operation by means of the control valve 33 to draw the piston rod 30 and the hooks 29 from right to left thus withdrawing the cores 2| from within the molded block. As the cores are withdrawn the masking plate 55 which is latched in the end of the mold by means of the latch 38 prevents the concrete or molded material from being withdrawn with the cores. After the cores have been completely withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 12, a second masking plate 35' is applied over the ends of the cores, as indicated in this figure, and a pusher plate 58 (see Figs. 12 and 15) is applied over the ends of the cores. This pusher plate merely has bosses 5| thereon designed to enter the ends of the cores and has recessed ends indicated at 52 that accommodate the half rounds or partial cores 23. When the pusher plate is applied the hydraulic ram is again operated by reversely shifting the control valve 33 to move the piston rod 3|) from left to right. During such movement the pusher plate engages the masking plate 35 that is within the end of the mold and pushes the molded block out of the mold as indicated in Fig. 13. During this expelling movement the pallets or plates 39 and. 40 slide out of i 4 s that a e tsfiiat cur ent qt 3QHUEQ en is e to pess'tb btsb. the melted l be w en. the pla es- Tb. enc te ct: in 'a' Ta tor ot qtete ess aese be ome he'atdby this current and the heat generated sufiicient to cause a prelinrinary set to quickly take place. After this settakes place, either or both of the. plates 39. and lflQcan be removed-from the block and returned tov the mold or, in lieu thereof, substitute plates 39 and '40 may be posi tioned the mold for a subsequently cycleoi; operation; These plates maybe inserted intp1the mold after the pusher plate 50 has beenremoved from the ends ofthe cores after having passed entirely through the mold.

As the cores are forced into the'mold to expel the molded block thesecond' masking plate, is carried by the cores-intothemo1d past the latch 38 and is thus lockedjinhposition to occupy the same position previously occupied by the masking plate 35. In this manner it will be.ap preciated that the cores after being withdrawn from the mold are utilized to expel the molded block from the mold and, in so doing, they are simultaneously returned to the interior of the mold so as to be in position for a subsequent cycle of operation. Consequently when the plates 39 and 40 or their substitutes are positioned in the mold, it is then ready to be again swung into the vertical filling position and to be re-filled to mold a subsequent block. The masking plate 35 that was pushed out of the mold ahead of the pusher plate is recovered when the block is completely expelled from the mold onto the conveyor or dolly 53 and is returned to be subsequently used for the masking plate 35.

It will be appreciated that some means must be provided for supporting the cores When they r are completely withdrawn from the mold and to this end the frame I0 supports rails 54 on which runners 55 on the hooks 29 are slidable. The cross head 26 is likewise provided with runners 56 that are also slidable on these rails. rails 54, however, terminate as shown in Fig. '7 so that when the cores 2| are entirely within the mold the runners 56 have passed beyond the ends of the rails 53 so that the rails do not interfere with the swinging movement of the mold and its contained cores from the horizontal to the vertical position. When the cores are withdrawn from the mold the runners 56 pass onto the rails and will support the cross head 26 to which the cores are secured at one end. As a means for supporting the other ends of the cores when they are completely withdrawn, a vertically reciprocable supporting member 51 is slidably mounted in a guide 58 on the frame. This supporting member is notched as at 59 (see Fig. 8) to receive the lower ends of the cores. The supporting member is vertically reciprocated by means of a link 60 pivotally connected as at 6| to a crank 62 on a hand lever 63 and after the cross head 26 has passed from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 10, the hand lever 63 is swung from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 10. In so doing the pivotal connection 6| passes over center or beyond a straight line joining the piv- The otarccnneetion between the-link 6.11 and-theme: port. 51 and theax-is ore-rotation oithe crank :62; so that. the weight. of the; qresi assl ed; to. the upporting member 51; wilrbe-suchas, to; ge the hand lever as itbsta stop. Git-.ontb :frame. T e supporting member; 51-wi1 1 thusbe, lqcked autematically i its; uppermost. nosit en wherein i can support the coresias they are completely withdrawn from the mold and whilethey are the pcsiti nshqwn in Fi 1.2.; Wh n th er are turnedto. the-mold. t e-leve 6.31s r urned r m t e-positi n hawn. .0.- to the p sition shownin F al. so as-to. re act. the su port: ingrnem e 57: into th po i ions sh wn i VE 6, '7 and 8 wh r n t. w l n t te er w t the runners 5B and the cross head .26.

lt l e a precia e rom h above-des ed construction that a novel means and method for mol nseored lo ks and simi ar t blesi pr v d whicnre uc s the-tim and-b eratichs neee sar o. a m n um... Themold en be r ad l swung about it ntra hor zcn l. is a 2v into a vertical position wherein it can be easily fi e a d r n e fi in themold can be bodi y vi rat d y means-9 the csent c h 2.9 to settle d p e self-ha en n mater that is fed into the mold th puglc the hopper 3B. h n he mol is c mpletely. iled it. an b easily turned into the horizontal position and in so doing the trunnions on the cross head 26 will automatically engage the hooks 29. The ram can then be employed to withdraw the cores from the block and after having been completely withdrawn, the masking plate 35 and the pusher plate 50 applied to the cores. Thereafter the cores may be advanced by the ram to expel the block that was previously cored and in so doing the cores are returned to their initial position within the mold, thus readying the'mold for a subsequent cycle of operation. When the block is expelled the concrete may be hastily set by the application of the alternating current terminals to the plates or pallets although this is not essential. However, when a current is used the block will be caused to take a quick preliminary set to thus free the plate 39 and 40 for subsequent use in the mold. In this way an excessive number of plates 39 and 40 is not required. Direct current might be employed for this purpose except that it is apt to promote electrolytic action in the concrete which is undesirable. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the improved machine enables cored blocks to be easily and quickly produced.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. The method of making cored molded objects which consists of positioning cores in a mold, placing a self-hardening material in the mold about the cores, withdrawing the cores from the mold while leaving the self-hardening material therein, interposing a presser plate between the cores and the molded material, and re-introducing the cores into the mold to return the cores to the mold and simultaneously expel the molded contents from the mold.

2. A molding machine comprising an openended mold, means pivotally and resiliently mounting the mold enabling the mold to assume either an upright filling position in which it may be vibrated or a horizontal unloading position,

cores receivable in the mold and adapted to swing therewith into either position assumed by. the mold, means forming a closure for the bottom of the mold about the cores when the mold is in upright position, and means attachable to and detachable from the cores when the mold is in horizontal position for pulling the cores from the mold and forcing them therein when the mold is in such position.

3. A molding machine comprising an openended mold, means pivotally and resiliently mounting the mold enabling the mold to assume either an upright filling position in which it may be vibrated or a horizontal unloading position, cores receivable in the mold and adapted to swing therewith into either position assumed by the mold, means forming a closure for the bottom. of the mold about the cores when the mold is in upright position, means attachable to and detachable from the cores when the mold is in horizontal position for pulling the cores from the mold and forcing them therein when the mold is in such position, and means applicable to the forward ends of the cores for expelling the contents of the mold by the cores when the cores are forced into the mold.

4. The method of molding a cored object which includes positioning a mold containing cores in an upright position, filling the mold about the cores with a self-hardening material, turning the mold into a horizontal position, pulling the cores from the mold while in the horizontal position, interposing a presser plate between the cores and the contents of the mold, forcing the cores into the mold thus expelling the contents of the mold and at the same time returning the cores to the mold, and then swinging the mold and its contained cores into an upright position and refilling the mold and repeatmg.

HERBERT A. VAN LOON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,850 Mildren Sept. 21, 1875 417,163 Foust Dec. 10, 1889 616,401 C'allaway Dec. 20, 1898 837,938 Leggett Dec. 11, 1906 1,438,448 McCoy Dec. 12, 1922 1,782,412 Dietrichs Nov. 25, 1930 2,235,440 Mackert Mar. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 47,732 Switzerland June 22, 1909 

